President's Message

"It's the people business!"

Those of you who have heard me speak know that this phrase is one of my favorites and one that I most firmly believe in.  And now there is some great new research to back me up. A new study just released by The Work Foundation, "Exceeding Expectation:  The Principles of Outstanding Leadership," offers empirical evidence that "truly people-centered leadership leads to more effective performance."

Based on 262 in-depth meetings with leaders, these researchers identified three principles that separated "good" leaders from "outstanding" ones. They found that outstanding leaders "think and act systemically, seeing things as a whole rather than compartmentalizing," "see people as the route to performance," and "are self-confident without being arrogant."

The researchers also identified nine themes that characterize outstanding leaders. I believe these themes are all ones that we can embrace in our own leadership practice to help us go from good leadership to great. They are:

1. Think systemically and act long-term – recognize the interconnected nature of organizations and seeking long-term benefits.
2. Bring meaning to life – focus on a strong, shared sense of purpose.
3. Apply the spirit, not the letter of the law – always put flexibility and humanity first.
4. Being self-aware and authentic to leadership first, their own needs second – done through role modeling.
5. Understand that talk is work – build relationships benefits the long-term health of their organization.
6. Give time and space to others – allow others freedom and influence over the work they do
7. Grow people through performance – passionately and consistently invest in their people
8. Put "we" before "me" – work to build a strong team
9. Take deeper breaths and hold them longer – build trust by delivering on promises and acting consistently

So there is your homework for the month. Don't worry – it will be easy to apply all of these themes if you just keep in mind that "it's the people business" and we are all in it.To read the study online, click here

Read on in this month's newsletter to learn more about the success of our Des Moines Vistage/charity event, our social media connections and licensed battlefield guide Joe Mieczkowski's take on why Gen. Robert E. Lee lost at Gettysburg.

Steven B. Wiley, president & founder
The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg, www.lincolnleadershipinstitute.com

Concert of Action

I am often asked while giving tours, "Why did Robert E. Lee lose at Gettysburg?"

A close look at the third day of Gettysburg provides an answer to the question

On July 3, 1863, Lee proposed a renewal of the July 2 assault, with McLaws, Hood and the newly arrived division of George Pickett, reinforced with a division and two brigades from A.P. Hill. Hood and McLaws were to advance with Pickett and pin down enemy units while Pickett's entire division would hit the Union line on Cemetery Ridge (approximately in the area where Wright penetrated a day earlier with a single brigade), break Hancock's line and push on to Cemetery Hill. Pettigrew and Trimble were to hit the south-western portion of Cemetery Hill in coordination with Pickett. Meanwhile to the east, Ewell was to hit Culp's Hill, while J.E.B. Stuart was to break through the Union cavalry and add to the mayhem to be created. This is what Lee would call in his official report "proper concert of action"—the entire Union line engaged and pinned in position, unable to make use of the interior lines to reinforce, while Lee hammered with most of his army. As we all know, the plan did not reach fruition. As a result of miscommunication and a break down in teamwork, the simultaneous assault never took place and Lee launched a massive, but piecemeal, frontal assault, which was a disaster.

In later years, Gen. Lee never asked himself if he could have done more to ensure that those empowered with executing his orders fully understood his intentions. To put it bluntly, it is clear that Lee—even though he had just completely reorganized his army, with new officers serving at all levels—failed to see that his battle instructions were not fully communicated to all of his commanders. It wasn't the first time, nor would it be the last, that a battle turned on a misapprehension or miscommunication. Gettysburg had more than its share of both, however, due in no small part to Lee's hands-off management style—and his determination to make this battle the one that changed the war.

While giving Gen. Lee his due, we as leaders we can also learn from his errors.

–Prepared by Joe Mieczkowski

‘Songs of Lincoln's America' concert coming to Frederick, Maryland

Travel across Abraham Lincoln's America with songs from and about the lifetime of the nation's 16th  president on February 19, when well-known folk singer Judy Cook will appear in concert in Frederick, Maryland.

"Songs of Lincoln's America" will take the audience from Lincoln's birth in 1809 to his death in 1865.  Dressed in 1860s style, Cook weaves the songs into an unforgettable story with concertina tunes, great quotes and fascinating historical details. Hundreds of projected images complete the magic.